DUI Lands Kiefer Sutherland Jail Sentence, 24 Safe

For those of you concerned that Kiefer Sutherland’s recent encounter with the law via his drunken driving charges may spell trouble for the production of FOX’s action-adventure series “24”, in which Sutherland is the star, need not fret. Reuters is reporting that Sutherland has struck a plea bargain with prosecutors, in which he will plea “no contest” to the charges, and serve 48 hours in jail initially, followed by 18 more days in jail to be served in late December and early January, and finally, 30 additional days in the clink once “24” wraps for the summer. The jail sentences are arranged so that they won’t interfere with Sutherland’s continued adventures as super Government agent Jack Bauer on 24’s upcoming seventh season.

Hey, this is good news. He’s going to do his time, as he deserves to, he just won’t do it when the show is in production. It’s best for everyone — fans of the show, the cast/crew whose work depends on the show, etc. And besides, it’s not like he’s skating — he will do his time. That’s more than you can say for a lot of the celebrity lawbreakers that populate Hollywood like vain cockroaches.

“He told us that even if he had to sacrifice more time in custody in order to protect the show and the jobs of those who work with him, he would do so. From what occurred today, it is evident he is a man of his word,” the network and its sister studio, 20th Century Fox Television, said in a statement.

Sutherland, 40, whose plea in Los Angeles Superior Court was entered by his lawyer, was arrested last month while still on probation for a 2004 drunken driving offense.

A bit of trivia about Kiefer Sutherland: He’s become recognized throughout the world as America’s premiere terrorist killer, but Sutherland is actually… Canadian!